ch’i-lin the - pearson successnet · 2012-05-17 · ch’i-lin the purse;da` ivazh vgz hidg^zh dg...
TRANSCRIPT
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The
Chi-lin Purse
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lt is said that many years ago in China, in a small town called Teng-chou, there lived a wealthy widow, Mrs. Hseh. She had only one
daughter, Hseh Hsiang-ling. Hsiang-ling was beautiful and intelligent,
and her mother loved her dearly. But since everything Hsiang-ling
wanted was given to her, she became rather spoiled.
When Hsiang-ling was sixteen years old, her mother decided that
it was time for her to marry. Through a matchmaker, Hsiang-ling was
engaged to a young man from a wealthy family in a neighboring town.
Mrs. Hseh wanted to prepare a dowry for Hsiang-ling that no
girl in town could match. But Hsiang-ling was hard to please. Almost
everything her mother bought for her was returned or exchanged at
least two or three times.
When the dowry was finally complete, Mrs. Hseh
decided to add one more item to it. It was the Chi-lin
Purse, a red satin bag embroidered on both sides with
a chi-lin, a legendary animal from ancient times.
The chi-lin had scales all over its body and a single
horn on its head. In the old Chinese tradition, the
chi-lin is the symbol of a promising male offspring.
Mrs. Hseh wanted to give Hsiang-ling the purse
because she hoped that her daughter would
give birth to a talented son.
When the purse Mrs. Hseh
had ordered was ready, a family
servant brought it home.
But Hsiang-ling was
not satisfied at all.
I dont like the
pattern, take it back!
she said.
The servant returned to the store and ordered another. But when
it was brought home, Hsiang-ling merely glanced at it and said,
The colors of the chi-lin are too dark, take it back!
The servant went to place another order, but the new purse still
did not please her. This time the servant broke down in tears.
I wont go back again, young mistress. The people in the store
laugh at me. They say I am hard to please. This is not true. You are
the one who is hard to please. If you dont want this purse, I am
going to leave you and work for someone else.
Although Hsiang-ling was spoiled, she was not a mean-spirited
person. She somehow began to feel sorry for the old man, who had
been with her family for more than forty years. So she looked at the
purse and said, All right, I will have this one. You may go and pay
for it. The servant went back to the store, paid for the purse, and
gave it to Mrs. Hseh.
Hsiang-lings wedding fell on the eighteenth day of the sixth month according to the lunar calendar. It was the day Hsiang-ling had
longed for since her engagement. She was very excited and yet
a bit sad, because she knew she was leaving her mother and the
home she had lived in for sixteen years.
Hsiang-ling wore a red silk dress and a red silk veil over her
head. As she sat in her hua-chiao, a sedan chair draped with red satin,
and waited to be carried to her new home, her mother came to
present her with the Chi-lin Purse.
My dear child, she said as she lifted up the satin curtain in
front, this is your ta-hsi-jih-tzu, your big, happy day. I am delighted to
see you get married even though I will miss you terribly. Here is the
Chi-lin Purse. I have put some wonderful things in it. But dont open
it now. Wait until you are in your new home, and you will feel that
I am with you.
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Hsiang-ling was hardly listening. She was thinking about the
wedding and wondering about her husband-to-be, whom she had never
met. She took the purse and laid it on her lap. A few minutes later, four
footmen came. Picking up the hua-chiao, they placed it on their shoul-
ders, and the wedding procession began.
As the procession reached the road, it started to rain. Soon it was
pouring so heavily that the footmen could not see well enough to con-
tinue. The wedding procession came to a halt, and the hua-chiao was
carried into a pavilion that stood alongside the road.
There was another hua-chiao in the pavilion. It was shabby, with
holes in the drapes. Hsiang-ling could hear a girl sobbing inside. This
annoyed her, because she believed that a person crying on her wedding
day could bring bad luck. So she told her maid to go and find out what
was wrong.
The bride is very sad, the maid said when she returned. She is
poor and has nothing to take to her new home.
Hsiang-ling couldnt help feeling sorry for the girl. Then her eyes fell
on the Chi-lin Purse in her lap. She realized that she was lucky to have
so many things, while this girl had nothing. Since she wasnt carrying
any money with her, she handed the Chi-lin Purse to her maid. Give
this to the girl, but dont mention my name.
So the maid went over and gave the purse to the other bride. The
girl stopped crying at once. Hsiang-ling had given away her mothers
wedding gift without ever finding out what was inside.
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A few minutes later, the rain stopped, the footmen picked up
Hsiang-lings hua-chiao, and the procession continued on its way. In
an hour, Hsiang-ling arrived at her new home. She was happily married
that evening, and to her delight she found her husband to be a wonder-
ful and handsome young man. In a years time, when she became the
mother of a little boy, she felt she was the happiest woman in the world.
But six years later, there came a terrible flood. Hsiang-ling and her family lost their home and everything they owned. When they were
fleeing their town, Hsiang-ling became separated from her husband and
young son in the crowds of other townspeople. After searching for them
in vain, Hsiang-ling followed a group of people to another town called
Lai-chou. She had given up hope that she would ever see her husband
and child again.
As Hsiang-ling sat, exhausted and alone, at the side of the road
leading to Lai-chou, a woman came up to her and said, You must be
hungry. Dont you know that a li (one-third of a mile) down the road
there is a food-distribution shack? Yan-wai Lu has opened it to help
the flood victims. Talk to his butler. I am sure you can get something
to eat there.
Hsiang-ling thanked the woman, followed her directions, and
found the place. A long line of people with bowls in their hands was
waiting to get a ration of porridge. Hsiang-ling had never done such
a thing in her life. As she stood in line holding a bowl and waiting her
turn, she felt distraught enough to cry, but she forced herself to hold
back the tears.
Finally, when it was her turn, Yan-wai Lus butler scooped the last portion of porridge into her bowl and said to the rest of the peo-
ple in line, Sorry, no more porridge left. Come back early tomorrow.
The person behind Hsiang-ling began to sob. Hsiang-ling turned
around and saw a woman who reminded her of her mother, except
that she was much older. Without a word, she emptied her porridge
into the womans bowl and walked away.
The butler was surprised at what Hsiang-ling had done. Just as
she had made her way back to the road, he caught up with her and
said, Young lady, I dont understand. Why did you give away your
porridgeare you not hungry?
I am hungry, said Hsiang-ling, but I am young and I can stand
hunger a bit longer.
You are very unselfish, said the man. I would like to help you.
My master, Yan-wai Lu, is looking for someone to take care of his
little boy. If you are interested, I would be happy to recommend you.
Hsiang-ling gratefully accepted his offer and was brought
to the house where Yan-wai Lu and his wife lived.
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Yan-wai Lu, a man in his early thirties, was impressed by
Hsiang-lings graceful bearing, and he agreed to hire her. My wifes
health is very delicate and she seldom leaves her room. Your job
is to take care of our son. You may play with him anywhere
in the garden, but there is one place you must never go. That
is the Pearl Hall, the house that stands by itself on the east
side of the garden. It is a sacred place, and if you ever
go in there, you will be dismissed immediately.
So Hsiang-ling began her life as a governess.
The little boy in her care was very spoiled. Whenever
he wanted anything, he wanted it right away, and if
he didnt get it, he would cry and cry until he got it.
Hsiang-ling was saddened by his behavior; it reminded
her of how spoiled she had been as a child.
One day, Hsiang-ling and the little boy were in the garden. Suddenly, the ball they were play-
ing with disappeared through the window of
the Pearl Hall. The boy began to wail, I want
my ball, I want my ball! Go and get my ball.
Young Master, I cannot go into the Pearl
Hall, said Hsiang-ling. Your father doesnt
allow it. I will be dismissed if I do.
But the little boy only cried louder, and
finally Hsiang-ling decided that she had
no choice. She walked over to the east side
of the garden and looked around. No one
was in sight. She quickly walked up the
steps that led to the Pearl Hall and again
made sure that no one was watching. Then
she opened the door and stepped in.
She found herself standing in front of an altar, where two candles and some incense sticks were
burning. But in the place where people usually put
the wooden name-tablets of their ancestors was a
Chi-lin Purse! Instantly she recalled the events of
her wedding day and how happy she had been. She
thought of her wonderful hus band and her own son
and how much she missed them. She had everything
then, and now she had nothing! Hsiang-ling burst
into tears.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder. When
she turned around she found herself face-to-face
with Mrs. Lu, her mistress, and a young maid.
What are you doing here? Mrs. Lu asked
angrily.
Young Master told me to come here and pick
up his ball, Hsiang-ling replied.
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Then why are you weeping at the altar?
Because I saw the purse which once belonged to me.
Mrs. Lu looked startled. Where are you from? she asked, as
she took the purse from the altar and sat down on a chair that leaned
against a long table. There was a tremble in her voice.
I am from Teng-chou.
Bring her a stool, said Mrs. Lu, motioning to her maid. Not want-
ing to wait on another servant, the maid grudgingly brought a stool and
put it to Mrs. Lus right. You may sit down, said Mrs. Lu. Somewhat
confused, Hsiang-ling sat down.
What was your maiden name?
Hseh Hsiang-ling.
When were you married?
On the eighteenth day of the sixth moon, six years ago.
Bring her a chair and put it to my left, Mrs. Lu ordered the maid.
Hsiang-ling was told to move to the chair. She was surprised to see her-
self treated as a guest of honor.
Tell me how you lost the purse, said Mrs. Lu.
It was a gift from my mother. My wedding procession was stopped
on the road because of a storm, and my hua-chiao was carried into a
pavilion. There was another hua-chiao in it, and the bride was crying.
Move her chair to the middle and move mine to the right side,
ordered Mrs. Lu. The chairs were switched, and once again Hsiang-ling
was told to sit down. She was astonished to find herself sitting in the
middle seatthe place of the highest honor.
Please continue, said Mrs. Lu.
I gave the bride my purse. I never saw it again, and I have no idea
how it got here.
Mrs. Lu dropped to her knees in front of Hsiang-ling and cried,
You are my benefactor! All these years I have been praying here for
your well-being. When I got to my new home, I opened the purse and
found it full of valuables, including this. She opened the purse and
took out a piece of jade. My husband and I were able to pawn it for
a large sum of money. Using the money, we started a business and
have now become very wealthy. So I reclaimed the jade and have
kept it here in the purse since. We also built the Pearl Hall to house
the purse and to honor you.
I knew that you lived in the Teng-chou area, so when I heard
about the flood I prayed day and night in that direction, begging
Buddha to protect you from harm. I was hoping that one day I would
find you and show you my gratitude. And here you are, taking care
of my son! I know what we must do. We shall divide our property
and give you half of it. That will make us all very happy.
Hsiang-ling was speechless as Mrs. Lu placed the purse in her
hands. That same day, Yan-wai Lu sent out servants in all directions
to look for Hsiang-lings husband and son. Soon they were found, in
a village not far from Teng-chou.
A great friendship developed between the two families. Later,
whenever Hsiang-ling told people about her purse, she would
always end the tale by saying, If you have a chance to do something
good, be sure to do it. Happiness will come back to you.
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